Your Guide to the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America
The 2027 XPEL Grand Prix brings the NTT INDYCAR SERIES back to Road America on June 24–27, 2027. It’s four days of open-wheel racing on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Advance four-day weekend tickets are on sale now. Kids 16 and under get in free with a paying adult, and you can walk the paddock, camp trackside and watch from anywhere on the 640-acre property. This guide covers what to know before you buy tickets and book a campsite.
In this guide
- What the XPEL Grand Prix is
- Tickets and admission
- The racing: IndyCar and support series
- Walking the paddock
- Camping at the XPEL Grand Prix
- Getting in and getting around
- What to bring
- The 2027 schedule
What the XPEL Grand Prix is
The XPEL Grand Prix is Road America’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend. It’s the same series that runs the Indianapolis 500, racing on a permanent road course. Road America has kept its original 4.048-mile, 14-turn layout since it opened in 1955. That means long straights where IndyCars reach top speed, followed by heavy braking into corners like Turn 5 and Canada Corner.
If you’re new to IndyCar, here’s the short version. The cars are open-wheel (no fenders over the tires), single-seat and built for both ovals and road courses. At Road America they race on a road course, turning both left and right through elevation changes and fast sweepers.
Tickets and admission
Road America is selling advance four-day weekend tickets for the 2027 XPEL Grand Prix at $140. That’s a limited-time advance price, so it may go up closer to the event. You can buy them on the XPEL Grand Prix tickets and hospitality page.
A few admission details worth knowing:
- Kids 16 and under get free general admission with a paying adult at the gate.
- Students with a current student ID get $10 off the gate price for general admission.
- There are no assigned grandstand seats. General admission lets you move around the property and watch from any public viewing area, either in your own chair or on available bleachers.
If you want a reserved spot with food and a roof over your head, Road America offers hospitality upgrades for the weekend, including the Finish Line Tower, the Turn 14 Experience and the Tufte Center. Weekend and daily options are listed on the same tickets page. For current discounts, check Road America ticket promotions.
The racing: IndyCar and support series
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the headliner, but it isn’t the only racing. Three support series fill out the weekend:
- INDY NXT Series presented by Firestone, the top step of IndyCar’s development ladder
- USF Pro 2000
- USF 2000
These are the junior open-wheel series where drivers work their way toward IndyCar. They’re worth watching for close racing and for the chance to see future IndyCar drivers before they make it. With several series on the schedule, there’s usually something on track for much of each day.
Walking the paddock
The paddock is the area behind pit lane where teams set up, work on cars and store equipment. Road America opens the paddock to fans during the XPEL Grand Prix, so you can walk up close to the teams’ transporters and work areas.
Paddock access is on foot. Bicycles must be walked, and golf cart access may be restricted in busy areas. Pets aren’t allowed in the paddock. Keep your head up, too: Road America’s rule is that race cars always have the right of way.
Camping at the XPEL Grand Prix
Camping is a big part of the IndyCar weekend at Road America. The property has more than 1,000 campsites, most about 20 by 40 feet, on grass, gravel or pavement. Trackside sites put you right at the fence line, and electric sites have 50-amp service. There are no water hookups, but potable water and two dump stations are available on site.
Camping isn’t included with admission. Each site requires:
- A campsite reservation
- A full event ticket for everyone 16 and older
- A camping wristband for everyone 16 and older
Campsites are reserved online during advance ticket sales. After gate pricing starts, any remaining sites are sold at the gate. Campers enter through Gate 4 on County Road J. Compare zones, site types and rules on the Road America camping page before you book.
Getting in and getting around
Gates open at 7:00 a.m., and the event closes at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. General admission ticket holders can enter at the Main Gate on Highway 67 or at Gate 3 on County Road J. Gate 5 on Highway 67 also opens on Saturday and Sunday. Gate 3 handles credentials, VIP guests and golf cart rentals.
Road America is big, so plan on walking. Personal golf carts, ATVs, UTVs and scooters aren’t allowed. You can rent a golf cart when you buy tickets, and a free tram runs on Saturday and Sunday. Big screens near several corners and the trackside radio broadcast help you follow the race when you’re away from the start-finish line.
Not sure where to set up your chair? Many fans head for Turn 5, Canada Corner or the Kink. The Road America Good Times Guide has the fan map and viewing tips.
What to bring
Road America allows carry-ins, so you can bring a cooler to open grass areas and campsites (just not to concession seating areas). Glass isn’t permitted. Late June in Wisconsin can be hot, rainy or both, so pack for the full range:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen, a hat and a rain layer
- A folding chair for general admission viewing
- Hearing protection, especially for kids
Leave firearms, fireworks and drones at home. Don’t try to save a viewing spot overnight with chairs or canopies, either: unattended items left to reserve space are removed. Read the full list of rules and accessibility information in the Road America FAQ.
The 2027 schedule
Road America hasn’t published the full 2027 XPEL Grand Prix schedule yet, including session times and fan activities. Check the XPEL Grand Prix INDYCAR Weekend event page for updates as race weekend gets closer.
Lock in the advance price
The XPEL Grand Prix is four days of IndyCar, junior open-wheel racing, open paddock access and trackside camping. The $140 advance weekend ticket won’t last forever. Get your 2027 XPEL Grand Prix tickets and reserve a campsite while advance sales are open.